A different point of view
For other examples:
Henri Cartier-Bresson p. 11
Slinkachu p. 46
Holly Andres p. 87
Spotting the difference between a good photographer and a bad photographer is easy. It’s nothing to do with how much equipment they have. It’s nothing to do with how much they know. In fact, you can tell the difference without even looking at their pictures.
Good photographers are contortionists.
They’re the ones hunching, squatting and bending over backwards. They’re the ones constantly down on the ground and climbing on benches. Good photographers perform all manner of photography yoga to get the shot.
Here Elliott Erwitt has adopted a dog’s-eye view of the world. By getting right down on the ground he’s found the perfect angle from which to tell his joke: first we smile in empathy for the small dog in the hat. Then we double take on realizing that those aren’t human legs on the left, but the legs of the world’s largest dog!
Head height is boring. It’s an all too familiar point of view of the world, with a punch pulling neutrality. Always be looking for those unfamiliar and surprising viewpoints, even if it means getting your knees dirty.
To Mr Erwitt I say ‘thank you’. I’ll happily pay for your dry cleaning.
Felix, Gladys and Rover
Elliott Erwitt
1974